Small World Documentaries is run by Chief Story Catcher Lara van Raay.
Based in Tasmania happily making stories and working around the globe.
After 20 years of working as a creative producer for broadcast channels including the ABC, Nat Geo and Foxtel, Lara has switched focus to filmmaking and is dedicated to creating stories that matter.
Lara is a filmmaker, an impact producer and a trainer.
Get in touch if you want anything created.
We also run workshops on digital storytelling and how to make short documentaries for schools, workplaces and emerging fimmakers.
2025 - present
Director “Silver Power Project” (in development)
2024
Impact Producer Tasmania - “Follow The Rain” feature documentary
Trainer - Digital Storytelling with Libraries Tasmania
Trainer - Digital Storytelling with Apple Box Studios
Impact Producer - “Road Kill Warriors” - supported by Doc Society
2023
Impact Producer - “GRiT - Tasmanian stories on screen” Film Festival
Director / Producer / Editor - “Road Kill Warriors” - short film commissioned by ABC. Finalist Sydney Film Festival Sustainable Future Award
Director / Producer / Editor - “Shorewell Presents” - 2 short documentaries and story telling exhibition commission by Ten Days on the Island & Burnie Community House
Director / Producer / Editor - “Grey Power” - short film commission by Wide Angle. Selected for Byron Bay Film Festival. Finalist Impact Video - SIMA Awards
Director / Producer / Editor / DOP - “Lady of Letters” for ABC Art Works
Director / Producer / Editor - “Jamin - Master of Murals” for ABC Art Works
2022
Assistant Director - “Fungi - Web of Life” for Stranger Than Fiction Films
Producer / DOP - BTS for “Incredible Animal Journeys” - for Nat Geo
2021
Director / Producer / Editor - “Can’t Speak, Can Draw” for ABC Art Works
Associate Producer - “Surviving Turbulence” - ABC Australian Story
2020
Production Manager - “Looky, Looky Here Comes Cooky” 1 hour documentary NiTV
2018 - 2020
Director / Producer / Editor / DOP - “Women of the Island” a web series. Winner - Jury Award for Best Series - Webfest Berlin. Finalist - Best Web Series - ATOM Awards. Winner - Best Direction in a Series - Baltimore Web Fest. Winner - Outstanding Cinematography - LAWebFest
2019
Production Manager / Assistant Director - “A World of Colours, Australia”. A 4 x 1 hour travel show for Voyage (France)
2012
Editor - “Mary Meets Mohammad” feature documentary and cutdown for ABC Compass. Finalist - Walkley Awards Documentary
2011
Director / Producer / Editor / DOP - “Aftermath: Disaster, Resilience and Recovery”. An ABC online series documenting life after disasters
Director / Producer / Editor / DOP - “Nik & Ned” a short documentary. Finalist - Best Short Documentary - St Kilda Film Festival
2010
Director / Producer / Editor / DOP - “Murray Darlings” a web series
2009
Director / Producer / Editor / DOP - “Palestine, Beer and Oktoberfest Under Occupation" a 42 min documentary. Winner - Best Australian Documentary. WOW Film Festival, Sydney. Finalist - Best Documentary - ATOM Awards
Judge Positions
Promax BDA Award judge 2008
MyState Student Film Festival judge 2016 - 2022
ATOM Awards judge 2020 - 2022